Rhinestones have an exquisite sparkle and brilliance that can be used to adorn jewelry, clothing and accessories. Anything can be made more dazzling and attractive with the application of some rhinestones.
The rhinestones of the highest quality are made in Europe—specifically Austria and Czech Republic. These are actually crafted from leaded glass crystal, not the acrylic you find in many craft stores. The difference can be seen in the sparkle and long life of the genuine stones. A genuine crystal rhinestone will last for generations, maintaining its luster and brilliance. Rhinestone jewelry made in the 1930′s and 1940′s has survived today and still looks gorgeous.
George Fredrich Strass, the inventor of rhinestones, discovered a way to coat the clear stones he found in the Rhine River in 1775. The result was a gorgeous stone that could easily be mistaken for a diamond! Glass crystals came to replace the river stones eventually. Rhinestones became popular after Daniel Swarovski received a patent for a machine which automatically cut uniformed crystals in 1892. This made it possible to make more stones in less time and at far less cost. To this day, Swarovski is the largest maker of rhinestones in the world.
Rhinestones are available in every conceivable color, size and shape. They are used in costumes, formal wear and other pieces of special clothing such as wedding gowns. Swarovski makes a popular flat-backed rhinestone that can easily be attached to almost any kind of fabric.
Use only vendors who are trustworthy. Be sure they are selling authentic Swarovski or Czech crystals as opposed to the plastic rhinestones which become cloudy and lose their sparkle very quickly. You get what you pay for when it comes to rhinestones.
Companies that make rhinestones are also known for their crystal beads. Swarovski has an enormous line of beads in all shapes, sizes and colors. You can find them in the finest handmade jewelry in fine boutiques around the world. Millions of crafters have discovered the joy of using these gorgeous beads in an infinite number of ways.
When it comes to using rhinestones, your only limit is your imagination. Use genuine crystals and beads to create unique clothing and accessories that can’t be found anywhere else.
Other than the Swarovski Rhinestones, you can also look at Swarovski Hotfix Crystals
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